Management arrangements for recreational fishing in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary

Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

Have your say on how the interactions between recreational fishing activities and dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are managed into the future.


What's being decided?

In response to concerns raised around the potential impact of recreational fishing activities on dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS), the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has worked with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) to develop an options paper to consider management arrangements that may assist in mitigating dolphin interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.

The purpose of the options paper is to:

  • Collate information relating to the interactions between recreational fishing gear and bait with dolphins present within the Port Adelaide River and Barker Inlet region of the ADS;
  • Investigate the level of risk posed to dolphins present within the Port Adelaide River and Barker Inlet region relating to fatal and non-fatal injury caused through interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits;
  • Investigate the level of risk posed to the ADS dolphin population relating to fatal and non-fatal injury caused through interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits; and
  • Identify options to address the risks posed to dolphins, and the ADS dolphin population, by recreational fishing activities in the ADS.

Background

The ADS is a marine mammal protected area located on the east coast of Gulf St Vincent adjoining the north-western part of the Adelaide metropolitan area. The ADS was established in 2005 for the protection of the resident population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and is administered by the DEW under the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005 (the ADS Act).

A key objective of the ADS Act is to maintain and improve the protection of the dolphin population in the Port Adelaide River estuary and Barker Inlet from direct physical harm. The ADS Act interacts with 12 other acts, thereby extending responsibility for achieving its objectives across several agencies, including the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (the Fisheries Management Act) and PIRSA.

*Please note: An amendment has been made to Table 4 in respect to Summary of dolphin interaction risk rating for different fishing gear and baits. Please refer to the attached document.

Get involved

To find out more:

Have your say by:

  • selecting your preferred option via the Quick Poll
  • emailing your response to PIRSA.feedback@sa.gov.au with Management options for recreational fishing in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary in the subject heading
  • post your response to:

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary consultation

Attention: Recreational Fishing Manager

GPO Box 1671

Adelaide SA, 5001


Public consultation will be open for 4 weeks, closing on 11:59pm Sunday 30 October 2022.

Please note: Your response may be made publicly available on the Department for Primary Industries and Regions’ website unless you indicate that you wish for these to remain confidential. Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

After all responses have been reviewed, a report will be prepared and provided to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Minister for Environment and Water, together with the summary of the community feedback received throughout the consultation for consideration.

Have your say on how the interactions between recreational fishing activities and dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are managed into the future.


What's being decided?

In response to concerns raised around the potential impact of recreational fishing activities on dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS), the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has worked with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) to develop an options paper to consider management arrangements that may assist in mitigating dolphin interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.

The purpose of the options paper is to:

  • Collate information relating to the interactions between recreational fishing gear and bait with dolphins present within the Port Adelaide River and Barker Inlet region of the ADS;
  • Investigate the level of risk posed to dolphins present within the Port Adelaide River and Barker Inlet region relating to fatal and non-fatal injury caused through interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits;
  • Investigate the level of risk posed to the ADS dolphin population relating to fatal and non-fatal injury caused through interactions with recreational fishing gear and baits; and
  • Identify options to address the risks posed to dolphins, and the ADS dolphin population, by recreational fishing activities in the ADS.

Background

The ADS is a marine mammal protected area located on the east coast of Gulf St Vincent adjoining the north-western part of the Adelaide metropolitan area. The ADS was established in 2005 for the protection of the resident population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and is administered by the DEW under the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005 (the ADS Act).

A key objective of the ADS Act is to maintain and improve the protection of the dolphin population in the Port Adelaide River estuary and Barker Inlet from direct physical harm. The ADS Act interacts with 12 other acts, thereby extending responsibility for achieving its objectives across several agencies, including the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (the Fisheries Management Act) and PIRSA.

*Please note: An amendment has been made to Table 4 in respect to Summary of dolphin interaction risk rating for different fishing gear and baits. Please refer to the attached document.

Get involved

To find out more:

Have your say by:

  • selecting your preferred option via the Quick Poll
  • emailing your response to PIRSA.feedback@sa.gov.au with Management options for recreational fishing in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary in the subject heading
  • post your response to:

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary consultation

Attention: Recreational Fishing Manager

GPO Box 1671

Adelaide SA, 5001


Public consultation will be open for 4 weeks, closing on 11:59pm Sunday 30 October 2022.

Please note: Your response may be made publicly available on the Department for Primary Industries and Regions’ website unless you indicate that you wish for these to remain confidential. Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

After all responses have been reviewed, a report will be prepared and provided to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Minister for Environment and Water, together with the summary of the community feedback received throughout the consultation for consideration.